Cigarette lighter-extinguisher means



Sept. 3, 1968 c. F. WALKER CIGARETTE LIGHTER-EXTINGUISHER MEANS Filed Aug. 31, 1965 INVENTO/P CHAR/.615 f? WALKER AITOR/VEV United States Patent'() 3,399,812 CIGARETTE LIGHTER-EXTINGUISHER MEANS Charles F. Walker, 7047 Lincoln Drive, Philadelphia, Pa. 19119 Filed Aug. 31, 1965, Ser. No. 484,028 Claims. (Cl. 222-192) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE means, said actuating means for said fire extinguishing means having a movable element engagable to activate said fire extinguishing means only when said lid is in its closed position.

The invention relates to a cigarette lighter-extinguisher device, and more particularly to a device for both lighting and extinguishing cigarettes, cigars and other such objects by using the same device.

Heretofore, many cigarette lighting devices have been provided, but eflicient and positive fire extinguishing means for assuring that cigarettes, cigars and other such objects have been extinguished have not been provided in combination therewith.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a new and improved device which may be utilized for both ligthing and extinguishing cigarettes, cigars and other such objects.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved device which, while having means for igniting cigarettes, cigars and other items, also provides efficient and positive means for the extinguishing of such objects when this is desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved cigarette lighter-extinguisher device, which permits the use of the extinguishing device when the lid of its casing is closed and the lighter is not being used.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved cigarette lighter-extinguisher device which is compact in construction, may readily be used for lighting or extinguishing objects and does not allow the operation of the lighter when the extinguisher is being used, and vice versa.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved cigarette lighter-extinguisher device of high utility, which provides for a disposable and replaceable fire extinguishing means, is reliable in operation and may be inexpensively produced.

The above objects as well as many other objects of the invention are achieved by providing a cigarette lighterextinguisher device which comprises a casing which includes a body containing a lighter means and providing for receipt of a disposable fire extinguishing means, and a lid having an open position for expos'mg the lighter means and a closed position enclosing the lighter means.

An actuating means is provided by the casing in its lid for actuating the fire extinguishing means only when the lid is in its closed position. The casing also provides a discharge means for conducting fire extinguishing fluid from the extinguishing means out of the casing. The lid of the casing is hinged at one end with the body for moving between its open and closed positions. The actuating means includes a push button extending through the top wall of the lid and a rod element extending parallel to the side walls of the lid, toward the body of the casing. The top end of the rod is connected with a button, while Patented Sept. 3, 1968 ice its bottom actuating ends extend downwardly for activating the valve of the fire extinguishing means when the button is depressed for causing fluid to be discharged by a nozzle of the discharge means on the outside of the body.

When the lid is in its open position, the lighter means is exposed and can be used for lighting cigarettes and other objects, and the fire extinguisher cannot be actuated. When the lid is closed, the lighter cannot be used for lighting objects, but the button of the fire extinguisher actuating means can be depressed for activating the fire exinguishing means and causing the discharge of fire extinguishing fluid from the side of the casing, for extinguishing lighted objects.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will become more apparent as the following detailed description of the invention is read in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a cigarette lighterextinguisher device embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 1, showing the device with its lid open;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view showing the actuating means for the valve of a cartridge containing fire extinguishing fluid and the fluid dispensing means of the device.

Like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the several views.

Refer to the figures which disclose a cigarette lighterextinguisher device 10 embodying the invention. The device 10 comprises a casing 12 which includes a body 14, provided with side walls 16, 18, front and rear end walls 20, 22, a top plate 24 and a bottom plate or wall 26. The case also includes a lid 28 which has a top surface 30, side walls 32, 34 and front and rear walls 36, 38, forming a cavity 40 therein. The rear wall 38 of the lid 28 is joined by a hinge 42 with the rear wall 22 of the body 14 of the casing.

The cavity 44 within the body 14 of the casing 12 is partitioned by a wall 45 into a first chamber 46 for receiving a disposable cartridge 48 of a fire extinguishing means 47, while the second chamber 49 contains lighter means 50. The chamber 49 may receive a butane cartridge for providing the lighter means 50, or as illustrated by the figures, may provide absorbent material 52 therein for receiving and retaining lighter fluid. A wick 54 for conducting lighter fluid is positioned within the chamber 49 in the usual manner and hasits end 56 extending through an opening 58 in the top plate 24. A wind shield 60 is supported by the plate 24 about the end 56 of the wick 54. The shield 60 supports a wheel 62 which engages a flint 64 in the usual manner for igniting the end 56 of the wick 54 when the wheel 62 is rotated. The flint 64 is maintained in position by a spring 66 which is retained with the flint 64 within a tube 68 extending through the chamber 49. The end of the tube 68 is enclosed by a screw element 70 received through the bottom plate 26 of the body 14. Similarly, an opening closed by a filler screw 72 is provided in the bottom plate 26 for supplying lighter fluid therethrough to the material 52.

The bottom plate 26 of the body 14 is also provided with a removable cover element 74 allowing the removal and replacement of extinguisher cartridge 48 as required. The chamber 46 is also provided with discharge means 76 having a cap portion 78 adapted to receive the valve discharge end 80 of the cartridge 48 and includes an O- ring 82 for sealing same therewith. The cap portion 78 connects with the tube portion 84 of the discharge means 3 76 which passes through the front end wall 20 of the body 14, and provides a nozzle 86 for discharging fire extinguishing fluid released by the cartridge 48.

The cap portion 78 of the discharge means 76 is supported by a housing 88 which extends upwardly and is secured with the top plate 24 of the body 14 as shown in FIGURE 5. The housing 88 has an opening therethrough which receives therein a displaceable actuator pin 90. The pin 90 has a top end 92 extending through an opening 94 in the top plate 24 and a bottom end 96 adapted for depressing and opening the valve 98 of the cartridge 48 when the pin 90 is actuated in a downward direction. A spring element 100 actuates the pin 90 for normally maintaining same in the upward, undepressed position, shown in FIGURE 5.

The lid 28 of the casing 12 is provided with actuating means 102 which comprises a depressable push button 104 extending through an opening 106 in the top surface 30 proximate to the front wall 36 and distal from the hinge 42 of the casing 12. The actuating means 102 also includes a rod 108 which has an upper end 110 secured with the push button 104 and extends downwardly parallel to the side walls 32, 34 of the lid 28 with its lower ends 111 approximate to the top 92 of the actuating pin 90, when the lid 28 is in its closed position as shown in FIG- URES 3 and 5. The end 111 of the rod 108 moveably extends through an opening 112 of the bracket 114 secured with the lid 28 for positioning and guiding the movement of the rod 108 when the button 104 is depressed.

A coil spring element 116 is received about the rod 108 between the bracket 114 and the push button 104 for normally maintaining the push button and its connected rod 108 in its upward undepressed position as shown in FIGURE 3, and as shown in FIGURE 4 by the solid lines. The ring 118 secured with the rod 108 acts as a stop by engaging the bracket 114 and preventing and limiting the further downward displacement of the actuating means 102 when the push button 104 is depressed. The downward displaced position of the end 111 of the rod 108 is shown by the dashed lines in FIGURE 4 when the button 104 is depressed.

In operation, in order to use the lighter means of the device 10, the lid 28 of the case 12 is opened as shown in FIGURE 2 and the wheel 62 is actuated in the usual manner to produce a flame at the wick end 56. When the lid 28 is in its open position, the fire extinguishing means cannot be actuated. When the lid 28 is in its closed position as shown in FIGURE 1, the wick end 56 of the lighting means 50 is enclosed and the flame produced thereby is extinguished. The fire extinguishing means 47 also may not be utilized until the lid 28 of the casing 12 is in its closed position as shown in FIGURE 1.

When the lid 28 is in its closed position and only then, the extinguishing means 47 may be actuated by depressing the button 104 of the actuating means 102. In doing this, the rod 108 moves downwardly, contacting and displacing the pin 90 in the downward direction. The downward movement of the pin 90 actuates the valve 98 of the cartridge 48, resulting in the release from the cartridge of the fire extinguishing fluid contained therein. Such fire extinguishing fluid may be carbon dioxide or other such substances which may be contained by the cartridge 48 for extinguishing fire. The released fluid from the cartridge 48 passes into the cap 78 and along the tube 84 of the fluid dispensing means 76 for being dispensed through the nozzle 86 in the front wall 20 of the body 14 of the casing 12. The application of such dispensed fluid positively, efliciently and conveniently extinguishes the flames or embers of a lighted item, such as a cigarette, cigar and so forth. The release of the button 104 results in the removal of force from the valve 98 of the cartridge 48 resulting in the closing of the valve 98 and the termination of the dispensing of fire extinguishing fluid by the device 10.

The coaction established whereby the use of the lighting means is prevented when the fluid dispensing means is being activated to discharge fire extinguishing fluid when the lid 28 is in the closed position, while the actuation of the fire extinguishing means is prevented when the lid is open and the lighter means is being utilized provides highly advantageous features in the device 10. The ready accessability of either a lighting means and a fire extinguishing means in the device 10 also provides high utility and a great safety factor in preventing fire hazards. Thus, whereby the crushing of cigarettes, or cigars is necessary to extinguish these items in the usual manner when depositing same in ash trays, the complete extinguishment of such items is not assured and oftentimes results in undesirable hazards. The use of the fire extinguisher operates directly and positively to extinguish the embers of cigarettes and cigars without requiring the crushing of same and with no doubt that the fire has been completely eliminated.

While this invention has been described and illustrated with reference to a specific embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is capable of various modifications and application, not departing essentially from the spirit thereof, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. A cigarette lighter-extinguisher device comprising a casing, a lighter means supported within said casing, and fire extinguishing means supported within said casing for dispensing a fire extinguishing fluid, said casing being provided with actuating means for actuating said fire extinguishing means to dispense said fluid out of said casing.

2. The device of claim 1 in which said casing includes a body containing said lighter means and extinguisher means and a lid having an open position exposing said lighter means and a closed position enclosing said lighter means, said actuating means for said fire extinguishing means having a movable element engageable to activate said extinguishing means only when said lid is in its closed position.

3. The device of claim 2 in which said fire extinguishing means releases a fire extinguishing fluid when activated and said casing is provided with a discharge means for conducting said fluid from said extinguishing means out of said casing.

4. The device of claim 3 in which said actuating means is retained by the lid of said casing for activating said extinguishing means when said lid is in its closed position.

5. The device of claim 4 in which said lid is hinged at one end with said body of said casing and has a top wall and side walls, and said actuating means includes a push button extended through the top wall of said lid and a rod element extending parallel to said side walls of said lid toward the body of said casing and having a top end connected with said button and a bottom actuating end.

6. The device of claim 5 in which said actuating means includes spring means for normally retaining said push button and rod in an upward deactivated position, said push button when depressed assuming its activated position moving said rod element downwardly for activating said extinguishing means when said lid is in its closed position.

7. The device of claim 6 in which the body of said casing has a top plate and enclosing walls, said top plate being enclosed by said lid when the lid is in its closed position, said extinguishing means comprising a cartridge of compressed fire extinguishing fluid retained within the body of said casing and having a normally closed release valve positioned proximate to and under the top plate of said body, the top plate of said body having an opening therethrough with a displaceable actuating pin received therein proximate the valve for activating the valve of said cartridge, and the bottom end of the rod of said actuating means extending to and being extendable into said opening in the top plate of said body for displacing said pin and activating the valve of said cartridge for releasing fire extinguishing fluid when the button of said activating means is depressed with the lid of said casing in its closed position.

8. The device of claim 7 in which said lighter means is supported within said casing proximate to the hinged end of said lid and said fire extinguishing means is retained within the body of said casing distal to the hinged end of said lid, and the button and rod of said actuating means being supported within said lid distal from the hinged end of said lid.

9. The device of claim 8 in which the discharge means of said casing is supported within the body of said casing and includes means for removably receiving the valve of the extinguishing means and tubular means extending through an enclosing wall of said body to provide a discharge nozzle at the end of said casing distal to the hinged end of said lid for dispensing fire extinguishing fluid when said valve is activated by the depression of the button of said activating means with said lid in its closed position.

10. The device of claim 9 in which the body of said casing has a bottom plate provided with a removable cover element for allowing the removal and replacement of said cartridge.

11. A cigarette lighter-extinguisher device comprising a casing including a lighter means, said casing including a compartment for removably retaining a disposable fire extinguishing means for dispensing a fire extinguisher fluid, said casing being provided with actuating means for activating said fire extinguishing means retained thereby to dispense said fluid out of said casing.

12. The device of claim 11 in which said casing includes a lid having an open position for exposing said lighter means and closed position enclosing said lighter means, said actuating means for said fire extinguishing means having a movable element engagable to activate said extinguishing means only when said lid is in its closed position.

13. The device of claim 12 in which said casing is provided with a discharge means for conducting fire extinguishing fluid from said extinguishing means out of said casing.

14. The device of claim 13 in which said actuating means is retained by the lid of said casing for activating said extinguishing means when said lid is in its closed position.

15. The device of claim 14 in which said lid is hinged at one end with said body of said casing and has a top wall and side walls, and said actuating means includes a push button extending through the top wall of said lid and a rod element extending parallel to said side walls of said lid toward the body of said casing and having a top end connected with said button and a bottom actuating end.

16. The device of claim 15 in which the activating means includes spring means for normally retaining said push button and rod in an upward deactivated position, said push button when depressed assuming its activated position moving said rod element downwardly for activating said extinguishing means when said lid is in its closed position.

17. The device of claim 16 in which the body of said casing has a top plate which is enclosed by said lid when the lid is in its closed position and enclosing walls, the top plate of said body having an opening therethrough with a displaceable actuating pin received therein, and the bottom end of the rod of said actuating means extending to said opening in the top plate of said body for displacing said pin and activating the valve of the cartridge of a fire extinguishing means received within said body for releasing fire extinguishing fluid when the button of said activating means is depressed with the lid of said casing in its closed position.

18. The means of claim 17 in which said lighter means is supported within said casing proximate to the hinged end of said lid and said casing provides for receiving and retaining said fire extinguishing means within the body of said casing distal to the hinged end of said lid, and the bottom and rod of said actuating means being supported within said lid distal from the hinged end of said lid.

19. The device of claim 18 in which the discharge means of said casing is supported within the body of said casing and includes means for removably receiving the valve of a disposable extinguishing means and tubular means extending therethrough an enclosed wall of said body to provide a discharge nozzle at the end of said casing distal to the hinged end of said lid for dispensing fire extinguishing fluid when said valve is activated by depression of the button of said activating means with said lid in its closed position.

20. The device of claim 19 in which the body of said casing has a bottom plate provided with a removable cover element for allowing the removal and replacement of said disposable fire extinguishing means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,614,532 1/1927 Mobley 222325 1,928,041 9/ 1933 Windeshcim. 2,309,011 1/ 1943 Porter 131256 2,375,615 5/1945 Boal 169--31 2,497,137 2/1950 Rodanet 677.1

ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner. F. R. HANDREN, Assistant Examiner. 

